Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Field tested hits at 100 yards, real chronograph data near 470 fps, and repeatable groups at 50 yards make the Ravin R470 a serious accuracy tool with premium build quality.
Table of contents
- First Shots and Zeroing at 100 Yards
- Ravin R470 Accuracy and Factory Visit
- Why the Ravin R470 Costs What It Costs
- Assembly, HeliCoil System, and Testing
- Chronograph Data and Terminology
- Range Results with the Ravin R470
- Cocking, Trigger, and Handling
- Consistency and Claims
- Specs and Price
- Pros and Cons
- Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
First Shots and Zeroing at 100 Yards
Was the scope off, or was it the shooter? My first shot landed a few inches high and left of center, nearly four inches from the bull. My next shot just missed the lower left edge.
I figured the scope was on. I was getting closer, but needed more stability and better trigger control. Sitting at my shooting bench, I took several deep breaths, stretched my arms and shoulders, and did some finger flexing. I lined the reticle dead center, eased out half my breath, and as the heartbeat ended, I squeezed the trigger.
My “firearm” was actually a crossbow, the new Ravin R470 that launches arrows at about 470 feet per second. I was damned impressed.
Ravin R470 Accuracy and Factory Visit
Day Two with the Ravin started strong. The company motto, “Three inches, 100 yards. No Rivals.” is their mission in a line. I heard it many times in June 2025 while touring Ravin’s facility in Superior, Wisconsin, with four other writers.
Day One, we toured one of the cleanest manufacturing floors I have seen. The shop was busy. Employees built about 120 crossbows that day and did the same every day to stock up for fall sales.
“Minus the strings, every crossbow we make has to be able to do 5,000 shots without wearing out or breaking,” Ravin President Kyle Campbell told us. “5,000 shots with a crossbow is like 350,000 miles with the same vehicle, almost no one’s going to do that.”
Why the Ravin R470 Costs What It Costs
If you have seen Ravin ads and prices, you have probably asked why so expensive. At the event, I had the same thought when staff showed us the R470 priced at $2,749.99. I thought I could buy a really nice big game rifle for two grand less.
True. But touring the facility and using the bows the next day explained a lot. Ravin builds high tech crossbows from top materials. They consistently put three arrows into a three inch group at 100 yards and tighter groups at 50 yards, the ethical hunting range for a crossbow.
I found myself wondering exactly that the first morning of the event as Ravin staff showed us their newest bow, the R470, priced at a whopping $2,749.99. I thought, hey, I can buy a really nice big game rifle for two grand less.
Doug Guthrie, Vice President of Product Development, explained the cost bluntly: “People ask all the time, why are your crossbows so expensive? Well, it starts with the fact that each crossbow has approximately 140 parts.”
Assembly, HeliCoil System, and Testing
Day One ended with the writers assembling R470s. I did not assemble all 140 parts, of course. With a technician’s guidance, I put together the main components and several smaller features, including the frictionless flight system.
After assembly, the tech wound a proprietary Ravin string around the cams using the HeliCoil system.
HeliCoil cams position dual cables to ride in top and bottom helical grooves. That keeps the cams perfectly balanced. Ravin says the HeliCoil design lets the cams rotate 300 degrees while staying level when drawing and shooting.
Chronograph Data and Terminology
Once strung, my crossbow went to the testing station, where I shot three arrows while staff chronographed the velocity. Ravin tests every crossbow this way.
My R470 chronographed at 471 fps. Staff said to expect a slight FPS change with use.
You may notice I call them “arrows,” not bolts. That is deliberate because everyone at Ravin calls them arrows. Ravin manufactures half a million of their own Ravin arrows each year.
Range Results with the Ravin R470
Day Two moved to a range 20 minutes north of Duluth, Minnesota. There I smacked a clay pigeon at 100 yards with the R470 I had assembled the day before.
I also center punched a steel target at 100 yards and drilled a pair of 2.0 inch groups at 50 yards using three field point tipped arrows.
About nine weeks after the event, I pulled the R470 from its travel case. The bow and case had banged around a bit, the case had rolled in my SUV on the drive home from Ravin HQ.
At 50 yards, I set the SpyderWeb 18XL “No Speed Limit” target. From a sandbagged bench, I fired three arrows at the right and center blue bullseye. They grouped just over 2.0 inches and about 2.0 inches to the right.
I adjusted the windage on the Ravin 100 Yard 550 FPS Illuminated 3x scope. Then I shot again. On!
I fired several more three arrow groups at 50 yards. They averaged about 2.5 inches center to center.
I also shot two three arrow groups offhand from 30 yards. They measured 3.0 inches. With practice, I hope to tighten that toward 2.0 inches.
My Garmin C1 Pro chronograph measured 15 arrows leaving the R470 at an average of 466.5 fps. The fastest was 469.1 fps, the slowest was 462.7 fps.
Cocking, Trigger, and Handling
The R470’s Versa Draw Cocking System is built into the poly stock. I connected the cocking handle end to a stock attachment point and turned the handle 15 times. That slid the built in trigger mechanism forward until it clicked into the string.
Fifteen turns in reverse pulled the trigger mechanism back, the crossbow was cocked. The Versa Draw has a built in clutch to prevent over cocking and an internal break that allows easy de cocking.
The Ravin 100 Yard illuminated scope comes standard on the R470. For more optics content on GunsAmerica, see our latest field tests.
The cocking handle worked well, though it took a while to find a comfortable grip. The handle’s points can dig into the palm, something to note during longer sessions.
I slid an arrow down the rail, white fletching down, until the nock clicked into the Track Trigger Firing System. The arrow sat on a cradle of two tiny steel ball bearings.
The R470’s trigger broke crisply, like a good rifle trigger. The safety operated easily with a thumb push.
My R470 came finished in King’s XK7 Camo pattern. There is also a $200 less black option.
More recently, Ravin debuted the R470E XK7 with an Electric Drive System that cocks and de cocks at the push of a button. The system uses a detachable 12 volt battery and motor for storage or recharging.
The R470E XK7’s suggested retail is $2,849.99.
Consistency and Claims
“Our goal is to make the most accurate, reliable crossbows,” Campbell said. “Bows with consistent, repeatable results. We are taking the variability out through the high tech parts and the consistent manufacturing process.”
Consistent, repeatable results? Based on my time with Ravin, I think Campbell and the company have succeeded.
READ MORE HERE: Charles Daly Triple Crown Review
Specs and Price
| Model | Ravin R470 Crossbow |
|---|---|
| Speed | 470 fps w/400 gr. Arrow |
| Kinetic Energy | 196 ft-lbs. |
| Cams | HexCoil Cam System |
| Limbs | Quad Limb Composite |
| String | Ravin Proprietary |
| Riser | Aluminum CNC |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Draw Force | 17 lbs. |
| Weight | 8.4 lbs. |
| Overall Length | 26.75″ |
| Axle-to-Axle, Cocked | 4.3” |
| Included | 100-Yard Illuminated 550 FPS 3x Scope, 3 Ravin .003 arrows w/field tips, removable draw handle, and quiver/mounting bracket. |
| MSRP | $2,749.99 |
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Excellent accuracy at 100 yards, consistent 50 yard groups, frictionless flight system, included illuminated scope, integrated Versa Draw, premium fit and finish.
- Cons: Price is premium, cocking handle points can dig into the palm, heavier than some hunting focused rigs.
Related Reads from GunsAmerica Digest
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Brian McCombie (Writer)
A full-time writer, Brian’s work focuses on hunting and firearms, day and thermal optics, and other shooting gear. He’s been fortunate enough to hunt much of the USA and Canada. His favorite hunt is chasing Texas hogs at night using a suppressed rifle outfitted with a thermal scope.
Dream hunt: Alaskan brown bear.
He’s taken handgun self-defense courses and long-range rifle classes for hunters. Brian continues to dive deeply into the new technologies so much a part of today’s hunting and shooting experiences.
His top firearms include AR-15’s and AR-10’s, double-stack 1911’s, and lever actions.
As a bent, broken, and battered old man on Social Security disability… I would force my body to draw a standard recurve bow before spending nearly 3 grand on a crossbow. They should enjoy their days with no substantial competition while possible. I predict that in another ten years, they will have to sell their products at half of today’s prices.
The 50 yard accuracy (3 arrows into 2.5″ group) doesn’t appear that great for a nearly $3,000 (with tax) crossbow. I have a Barnett Whitetail Pro STR that cost about $450 (on sale), 400 fps. I can quite consistently put 3 arrows into a 1 inch bull at 40 yds. from the bench. During one session, I put 8 of 10 shots into a 7/8 in. group, with the other two landing 1/8 and 1/4 outside the main group for overall 1 1/8 inch for 10 shots. I use the term shot because I removed each arrow prior to shooting the next from fear of damaging arrows. This crossbow has a Rope cocking system that works fine even for my 77 year old arms. Decocking is done by shooting a dummy arrow into the dirt or field arrow into a target. At 50 yds, 400 fps will achieve a “pass thru” on a bull elk. Extra velocity might make a difference for heavy bone. 100 yd shot on game is unethical with any archery equipment.